Valve for inflatable boats



Feb. 29,1944. J. c. CROWLEY 2,342,726

VALVE FOR INFLATABLE BOATS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1942 if i l\` 7 f w Q /ffw fff l I l 1 si 36' Y ,l/ A 27 77 n I l f4 |u,

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Feb. Z9, 1944. J. c. CROWLEY 'l 2,342,726

VALVE FOR `I.IIFJ'JATBIJE'II BOATS 4 Filed May 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '//ff' a INVNTORl JOHN C. kan/v Patentedl Feb. 29, 1944 VALVE FOR INFLATABLE BOATS John C. Crowley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

sgnor to The Dill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of O hio Application May 14,1942, serial No. 442,929 s claims. .(01. 137-144),

This invention relates to a valve mechanism and more particularly to a valve mechanism for an inflatable boat or raft. It will be understood, however, that a `valve mechanism embodying the present invention may be advantageously employed in other lenvironments wherever it is desired to introduce fluid or gas simultaneously into separate compartments at an equalrate and volume.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism of the type which includes av plurality of separate valve elements controlling the simultaneous introduction of gas or uid into a plurality of separate compartments and which mechanism includes means for actuating all of th'e valve elements concurrently and exactly the same.

Another and more specic object is to provide a valve mechanism for controlling the introduction of fluid or gas into the separate compartments of an inflatable boat orr raft and which mechanism embodies valve elements and means for actuating the same in unison and vexactly alike, Wherefore the separate compartments of the boat or raft may be inflated at the same ratel and to the same extent vfrom a common source of iiuid or gas'.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism of the character referred to in either of th'e above mentioned objects and which mechanism is efficient in operation, simple in construction and so designed as to be readily manufactured and assembled.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will be pointedl out or become apparent hereinafter during the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in/- Fig. 3 is a detached view on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 of the valve mechanism embodying the invention and shows the protective and attaching envelope of the mechanism in section and the manifold housing of the mechanism enclosed in saidr envelope in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the manifold housing of the valve mechanism shown .in elevation.

shown in Fig. 3 and is taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of vthe arrows. 1

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the manifold housing shown in Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the manifold housing of the valve mecll'anisrnr and is taken substantially on line G- oi Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the manifold housing of the valve mechanism and through one of the valve elements mounted in saidlhousing and is taken substantially along line 1--1 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the attaching and protecting envelope and the manifold housing of a different form of Valve mechanism embodying the kinvention than hasy been illustrated in the previous views. thesection being taken along line 8-8 ofFig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows, while a portion of the lower end of one of the valve elementsv is.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View throughv the manifold housing Vand onevof the valve elements of the valvemechanism shown in Fig. 8. the attaching and protecting envelope thereof being omitted, and is 4taken substantially along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows. l

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view through the manifold housing of they valve mechanism.

. 1 shown in Fig. 8 and is taken substantially along line lll--I of Fig. 8 lookingin the direction of. the arrows, and

Fig. 11 is a top plan View of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

The valve Amechanisms have been shown in the drawings as vapplied to an inatable raft ory boat for purposes of illustration since said mechanisms have particular utility when so used. It will be understood, however, that the valve mechanisms may be advantageously employed with other apparatus wherein it is` 'desired to introduce uid or gas from a'. common source of' supply simultaneously into 'a plurality 'of separate compartments and at -equal'rates'and equal volumes.

The boat or raft shown in Figs/1 and 2 is an inflatable one and is of 'the type carried by aircraft, ships and the like in normally dellated condition for ination and use in case of an emergency. The boat or' raft is 'constructed of'.

rubberized fabric and the laps and seams of the boat are secured by cement so as to eliminate stitching or metal securing members from its construction. The boat or rait comprises an encircling buoyant or floatation tube indicated generally at I and a fabric bottom I6 secured to the underside of the buoyant or floatation tube I5 and extending across the space formed by the tube. The iioatation tube i5 is divided along its horizontal center line by a horizontal bulkhead I1 into an upper compartment i3 and a lower compartment I3 which are separate from each other and are individually inflatable.. In some instances the boat or raft may be. divided into' additional compartments by vertical. bulkheadsbut such an arrangement is immaterial to a description of the present invention.

As stated, the boat or raft is inflatable. and the inflation cf the boat is usually accomplished, particularly in emergencies, by the simultaneous introduction into the separate compartments thereofl .of gas under pressure from a common cylinder or container, which latter is indicated at 20. The boat or raft may be provided with valves 2| communicating, respectively, with the separate compartmentsA and providing for manual pressure relief of the compartments or the. ination thereof by means of ahand pump or by an air hose.

The valve mechanism embodying the present invention is intended to be used for the concurrent inflation of upper and lower compartments of the boat by gas released from a common cylinder or container 2li. The cylinder 20 contains gas under suitable pressure, such gas usually being CO2 and the discharge end of the cylinder is connected to a cylinder valve 22 of known con.- struction and provided with manually operated means for rupturing the seal in the discharge,

end of the cylinder, all as will be well understood..

The cylinder valve 22 is connected to the. inlet nipple. 23 of the valve, mechanism embodying the present invention by suitable connecting means. including the connecting nut 2.4., all as will be understood since it is common practice in the art.

Heretofore the practice has been to employ a valve mechanism permanently secured to the raft or boat and including a common chamber in communication with the inlet nipple of the mechanism and having two outlets controlled by separate valve elements and comrnunicating,` respectively, with the separate upper and lower compartments of the inatable raft or boat. The valve elements employedI in such` a valve mechanism are normally maintained seated by spring pressure and are opened by the pressure of the gas released from the cylinder and entering the common chamber, Diiculty hasl been encountered in the use of such a valve mechanism since the valve elements thereof do not always operate uniformly under the pressure of the incoming gas, due primarily to the fact that the spring pressures on the valve elements cannot be maintained equal and also for other reasons as, for example, sticking or freezing of the valve ele-v ments. The result is that in many instances of inil'ating boats. or rafts of this type the separate compartments thereof are not inated at. the same rate and to the same extent from the common source. of supply of pressure iiuid, with a consequent` decrease in the effectiveness of the boatvvhen-4 inflated.

The valve mechanism embodying' the, present. invention overcomes these defects, since the sepa.-

ase-2,726

rate valve elements thereof are operated simultaneously at equal rates and to the same extent by the pressure of the gas coming from the cylinder into the common chamber of the valve mechanism. This means that the separate upper and lower compartments of the boat will always be inflated to the same extent and at the same rate. It also means that the practical diiculty of procuring and using springs of exactly the same strength and tension and capable 0f maintaining such conditions for normally seating the valve elements of the valve mechanism is eliminated, since in the mechanism of the present invention the valve element springs do not have to possess or maintain exactly the same strength and tension.

The valve mechanism shown in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive will now be described. The valve mechanism comprises a manifold housing consisting of the two separable parts 25 and 2li secured together by suitable securing screws 21 theA heads of which are countersunk in the part 25. A gasket 28 is clamped between the two parts 25 and 26 of the manifold housing to seal the interior thereof. lThe part 25 is illustrated as substantially of inverted cup shape and is provided centrally thereof with a raised dome 29 in which is located the inlet nipple 23. The part 25 of the manifold housing is enclosed or covered completely by a protecting envelope 33, except that access is provided to the inlet nipple 23 so the cylinder valve can be connected thereto by the connecting nut 24 while openings 33a in the envelope align with the heads of the screws 21. The part 26 of the. manifold housing is illustrated asv substantially a rigid plate provided with spaced threaded openings into which are screwed identical plugs 3|, constituting part of the valve elements andI which extend abovev and below the plate. The part 26 is enclosed in a protecting and attaching envelope 32 which extends around theside edges of the part 26 and beneath the same but is provided with suitable openings through which the plugs 3| extend. The envelope 32 is provided with an attaching flange 33 which, together with the under surface of the envelope 32, is secured by cement or other suitable means to the material of the upper surface of thefilotav tion, or buoyant tube I5 adjacent the bow of the boat or raft. The envelopes 39 and 32 are formed preferably of rubber and are cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the parts 25` and 26 of the manifold housing. When the parts 25 and 26 are clamped together by the screws 21 the contacting edges of the envelopes 30 and 32 will be in engagement with each other with a sealing relationship.

The plugs. 3| are provided at their upper or innerv ends and within the manifold housing with openings or bores 34 which communicate with counterbores 35 which have tapered portions 36 adjacent the openings 34 and extend to the outer or lower ends of the plugs 3l. The plugs 3l' are provided at their lower or outer ends with conical shoulders 31 about which the upper edges of substantially cup-shaped retaining members 33 are clamped. The retaining members 38 are protectivelyl coated. with rubber or other suitable material 39 so there will be no exposed metal parts extending into the boat or raft. The retaining members 38 and their protective coatings 3.9 are provided with openings du, it being understood that the interior of one of the retaining members through thev openings 4i) is in direct comrznmicatiorxl with the upper compartment I8 of the raft, while the interior of the other retaining member 38 through its openings 40, is in communication with the lower compartment lI!! through `a conduit or tube 4| connected to such retaining member.

In each plug 3| there is mounted a movable valve member which comprises an enlarged portion 42 located in the counterbore 35 and a reduced pin portion 43 extending from the inner or upper end of the enlarged portion 42 and through the opening or bore 34 and into the interior of the manifold housing. A valve gasket 44 is mounted on the upper end of the enlarged portion 42 surrounding the pin 43 and is adapted to sealingly engage thetapered upper or inner end portion 35 of the counterbore 35 in the plug 3|. The enlarged portion 42 of the valve member is provided with a recess into which extends a coil spring 45, the lower end of which surrounds a pin 46 extending upwardly from the bottom of` the retaining member 38. It will be seen that the spring 45 since it abuts at one end the bottom of the fixed retaining member 38 and at its other end the valve member, acts to normally maintain the valve gasket 44 seated against the tapered' end portion 36 of the counterbore 35. They construction just described is common to both plugs 3| and constitutes what is designated herein as a valve element of the mechanism.

' The part 26 of the manifold housing is provided with a recess 41 whichcommunicates with a concentric and larger recess or counterbore 48A extending to the upper or inner surface of the part 26. The recess or counterbore 48 is surrounded by an annular groove which receives the peripheral bead formed on a exible diaphragm 49 andqfwhich diaphragm is clamped in position byv a ring 50 secured to the inner surface of the part 26 by suitable clamping screws 5|.

A post 52 has a reduced threaded portion which extends through a central opening in the diaphragm and receives a nut 53 which acts to clamp the diaphragm between the post 52 and a thin washer 54. The post 52 also has a reduced threaded part 55 extending from its upper end and into the interior of the dome 29 of the part 25. "The threaded extension 55 passes through a central opening formed in an equalizer bar 56 and into a clamping nut 51 which when screwed down on the extension 55 clamps the equalizer bar 56 in position on the post 52. The nut 51 is square and the corners thereof have sliding engagement with the interior wall of the dome, thus guiding the nut and assuring vertical movement without tipping of the bar 56.

The equalizer bar 56 extends longitudinally of the manifold housing and parallel to the inner surface of the plate-like part 26 thereof. The opposite reduced ends of the equalizer bar 56 overlie at equal distances the inner or upper ends of the pins 43 of the movable valve members.

It will be seen that when pressure fluid enters the interior or chamber of the manifold housing through the inlet nipple 23 and the interior of the dome 29 the exible diaphragm 4S is subject to the pressure created within the manifold housing or chamber by the pressure fluid and will be iiexed thereby in a downward direction as viewed in the drawings, with a resultant bodily downward movement of the equalizer bar 56. The downward movement of the equalizer bar 56 causes they opposite ends of said bar to engage simultaneously with the upper or inner ends of the pins 43 of the movable Valve members of the valve elements and a continuation of this movement ofl the equalizer bar moves said members in unison to the same extent and at the same rate and pressure against theaction of the springs 45- to unseat the valve gaskets 44 of the movable valve members to an equal extent, thus providing exactly the same areas through the plugs 3| ofthe valve elements for the passage of pressure fluid therethrough and into the separate upper and lower compartments of the inflatable raft or boat.

The result is that said compartments are inflated simultaneously from the common source of supply, i. e., the cylinder 26 to the same degree and at the same rate.

Although the pressure of the incoming Iluid in the chamber of the manifold housing effects the opening of the valves this pressure does not act on the valves individually, but thelatter are actuated simultaneously and equally by the pres,- sure through a common mechanical means, i. e., the equalizer bar 56. Consequently the valve elements are opened simultaneously and to the same extent, irrespective of any variation in the strength of the springs 45 or any other reason which might tend to cause one valve element to open more readily than the other.

The form of valve mechanism embodying the invention and shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive dilers from the previously described form in that the protective and attaching rubber envelope 58 for the mechanism is formed integral throughout and once it is attached to the manifold housing of the valve mechanism'the separate parts of said housing may not be separated without removing the envelope 58 therefrom. The envelope 58 is a molded rubber one and is provided with an'attaching ange 59 by which the valve mechanism is cemented or otherwise secured to the raft or boat.

The manifold housing of the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 8 to l1 inclusive comprises a chambered part 66 and a closure plate 6|. The partv is provided with a longitudinally extending chamber 52,' access to which may be had prior to securing the envelope 53 on the manifold housing from the end of the part through a'thleaded opening which can be closed by a threaded sealing plug 63.

The part 66 istransversely enlarged intermediatc itsends, as indicated at 64, and this enlarged portion of the part is provided on the upperk side thereof with a dome 64a, the upper end of which merges into the inlet nipple 65, similar to the inlet nipple 23 of the previously described form. The part 6|) is provided with openings 66 which communicate with the chamber 62 'adjacent the opposite ends of the latter and which also communicate with threaded counterbores that extend to the outer or lower face of the part Bil and are provided at their inner ends with a straight shouldered portion 51 and a tapered portion 68. The part 66 is also provided centrally thereof and in alignment with the dome 64a. with an opening 69 forming a continuation of the interior of the dome and extending perpendicularly to the chamber 62. The opening 69 at its lower end, as viewed in the drawings, is in communication with a counterbore 'Hi .formed in, the part 60 and having its bottom or vinner end provided with an annular groove to receive a bead or flange formed on the circumference ci a 'lexible diaphragm 1| which extends across the bottom of the counterbore 13 and the adjacentend of the opening 69, Aclamping'ring 12 mounted in said counterbcre acts to clamp the diaphragm 1| in position.

In each threaded counterbore which communicates with the openings 66 in the part 60 there is screwed a threaded plug 13 until the inner end oi' said plug contacts the straight shouldered portion at the inner end of the counterbore. The plugs 13 are provided with external ilanges it which engage with the closure plate 6l and act when the plugs are completely screwed into position in the counterbores to hold said plate clamped against the lower side or surface of the part ill and against the retaining. or clamping ring 12 for the diaphragm 1| previously referred to.

The plugs 13 are provided with straight bores 'E5 extending therethrough and at their lower ends have external conical shoulders 16 about Awhich the upper edges of substantially cupshaped retaining members 11 are clamped. The retaining members 11 are protectively coated with rubber or other suitable material 18 and said members and said. material are provided with openings 1S.

Movable valve members 80 are mounted in the bores in the plugs 13 with a clearance therebetween and said members are provided at their lower ends, as viewed in the drawings', with reccsses into which extend valve springs 8l. The valve springs El abut at one of their ends against the members lill, while their opposite ends abut the retaining members 11 and surround pins 82 carried thereby. The valve members 80 are provided at their inner or upper ends with pins 83 4extending with a clearance through the openings Eb in the part Ell and into the chamber 62. Valve gaskets Ell are mounted on the inner or er ends of the valve members 8G and are nor? ally held seated against the, tapered shoulder portions 58 by the springs 8l as will be clearly understood.

A. post t is located in the opening 69 and is provided on its lower side as viewed in the drawwith a reduced threaded portion 86 which has screwed thereon. a nut 81 that serves to clamp the diaphragm 1! and a thin washer 88 between the lower end of the post 85 and the nut 81. The plate-like part 5l of the housing is provided with a recess 39 to accommodate the nut 81 when the diaphragm 1I is flexed downwardly. The post d'5 on its upper end is provided with a reduced threaded extension 90 that screws into a threaded bore 8| formed in a block 52 that extends from the opening E8 into the interior of the dome 64a.

The block i12 is provided with a threaded bore and an enlarged counterbore communicating therewith and both extending transversely of the block and perpendicularly to the threaded opening El therein. A rod 93 is provided with a threaded portion 94 which screws into the threaded bore in the block 92 and also with an enlarged cylindrical portion 95 adjacent said threaded portion 94 and which interts the enlarged counterbore in the block 92 and imparts stability to the rod 93 and maintains the same perpendicular to the vertical axis of the block 552 and post 85. The rod 93 at its left hand end view-ed in the drawings is provided with a transverse screwdriver slot 95 which is utilized in assembling the rod in the chamber 62 of the housing and in screwing the rod into position in the block 92, it being understood that the rod is so arranged in the chamber before the envelope 53 is applied to the manifold housing and when the nut S3 is removed from the opening in the end of the latter. The rod 93 overfluid, as for exampl lies the inner ends of the pins B3 of the movable valve members and is equally spaced from said ends ci the pins, The block 92 is square and the corners thereof have sliding contact with the interior wall oi the dome 64a to guide the block in its vertical movement and prevent tipping of the rod 93.

It will be recalled that the plate-like part 6l of the manifold housing is secured in position against the underside of the part 60 by the plugs 13 when the latter are screwed into assembled position.

It will also be understood that when the inlet 65 is connected to a source of supply of pressure the cylinder CO2 and the fluid flows into the interior of the dome B4 and the chamber 62 of the manifold housing the pressure created thereby deflects the diaphragm 1| and moves the post and block S2 downwardly with a resultant movement of the rod 93 into engagement with the inner ends of the pins 83 of the movable valve members. This downward movement of the post 35, block 92 and rod 93 continues and effects the unseating of the valve gaskets 84 with respect to the tapered shoulders 68, thus allowing the pressure fluid to flow through the openings 5S and through the plugs 13 and thence into the compartments oi the inflatahle raft or boat.

In the present embodiment, as in the first described embodiment, the valve elements will be actuated mechanically in unison and identically the same in response to the pressure created in the chamber G2 by the incoming pressure fluid. Therefore any inequalities in the tension of the valve springs 8l or any other cause which might render one valve element harder to open than the other will not result in unequal inflation of the separate compartments of the raft or boat, since both valves are opened by the rod S3 in unison and identically the same.

Although several preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with an inlet to said chamber from a source of pressure iiuidV and with a. plurality of outlets from said chamber, normally closed valve elements operatively associated with said elements, and means responsive to the pressure created in said chamber by the incoming pressure fluid for actuating mechanically said valve elements to open position. simultaneously and identically and including a flexible diaphragm and a bar operatively associated therewith and with all of said valve elements and movable in the same direction as said diaphragm.

2. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with an inlet to said chamber from a source of pressure fluid and with a plurality of outlets from said chamber, normally closed valve elements operatively associated with said outlets, and means responsive to the pressure created in said chamber by the incoming pressure fluid for actuating mechanically said valve elements to open position simultaneously and identically and including a flexible diaphragm, a block operatively connected therewith, and a rod removably connected with said block and operatively associated with all of said valve elements.

3. A valve mechanism as dened in claim 2 and wherein said housing is provided with an opening affording access to said rod and with means normally closing said opening.

4. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with an inlet to said chamber from a source of pressure iuid and with a plurality of outlets from said chamber, normally closed valve elements operatively associated with said outlets, said housing having a 'recess therein extending from said chamber opposite said inlet, a flexible diaphragm secured in said housing and extending across said recess and responsive to the pressure of the iluid in said chamber, and an equalizer member in said chamber and connected with said diaphragm to move therewith and operatively associated with said valve elements to open the latter upon movement of the diaphragm in one direction.

5. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with a pair of aligned recesses extending from opposite sides of said chamber, said housing having an inlet from a source of pressure duid communicating with one of said recesses and being provided With a plurality of outlets from said chamber, normally g closed Valve elements operatively associated with said outlets, a iiexible diaphragm secured in said housing andl extending across the other of said recesses and responsive to the pressure of the uid in said chamber, an equalizer member in said chamber and operatively -associated with said valve elements, and means connecting said member with said diaphragm to move therewith to .o-pen said valve elements upon movement of the diaphragm in one direction and including a part having sliding guiding contact with said one recess. l

6. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein, said housing being formed of two separable parts, means for securing said parts together, one of said parts being provided With an inlet to said chamber, the other of said parts being provided with removable plugs having passaid chamber, said passages including valve seat portions, valve means carried by said plugs and normally engaging said valve seat portions, each of said parts of said housing being enclosed in a protective envelope, said envelopes when said parts are united and secured together constitutn ing a sealed enclosure for said housing with the envelope containing the part provided with the outlets having means for attaching the valve mechanism to an inflatable raft or boat and pro vided with openings through which said plugs extend to a position wherein they will be located interiorly of the rait or boat when the mechanism is secured to vthe latter.

7. A valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with an iniet to said chamber from a source of pressure uid and with a plurality of outlets from said chamber, normally closed valve elements operatively associatedl with said outlets and each including a movable pin extending into said chamber, and means responsive to the pressure created in said chamber byy the incoming pressure fluid for actuating mechanically said valve elements to open position simultaneously and identically and including a rigid' element operatively associated with said valve pins and having bodily straight line movement in a path parallel to the path of Inovement of said valve pins.

8. A valve mechanism of the character de`v scribed, comprising a housing having a chamber therein and provided with an inlet to said chamfbcr from a source of pressure uid and With a plurality of spaced outlets from said chamber, normally closed valve elements operatively associated with said outlets, said housing having a recess therein extending from. said chamber and located intermediate said spaced outlets, a exible diaphragm secured in said housing and ex tending across said recess and responsive to the pressure of the iiuid in said chamber, and an. equalizer member in said chamber and connected with said diaphragm to move therewithvand op'n eratively associated with said valve elements to open the latter upon movement of the diaphragm in one direction.

JOHN C. CROWLEY.

sages therethrough constituting outlets from' 

